The Hindu : National : 27 billionaires in India

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Saturday, Dec 17, 2005

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27 billionaires in India

Forbes Asia's list of 40 richest Indians Lakshmi Mittal tops the list, followed by Azim Premji, then come the Ambani brothers

New Delhi: Lakshmi Mittal (55), who runs Mittal Steel, world's largest steel company, has been named the richest Indian by Forbes Asia's second annual list of 40 richest Indians.

The list says that the number of billionaires in the country — those whose net worth is in excess of Rs. 4,500 crore — has more than doubled in a year, from 13 to 27.

The rich needed a net worth of at least $590 million, up from $305 million last year, to make the cut.

With the Indian economy growing faster than ever and the stock markets reflecting it, the net worth of many has risen manifold.

Second to Mr. Mittal is Wipro Chairman Azim Premji whose net worth has been estimated at $11 billion.

At three and four are the Ambani brothers. Mukesh Ambani (48), has been estimated at $7 billion. and Anil Ambani (46), stands with $5.5 billion.

A surprise at No. 5 is Kushal Pal Singh, doyen of the DLF Universal and New Delhi's numero uno builder. Sunil Mittal, chairman of Bharti Tele-Ventures Ltd., has been ranked sixth with an estimated wealth of $4.9 billion.

Seven newcomers have joined the ranks. They include Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal, Anurag Diskhit and Vikrant Bhargava, executives at the Internet casino outfit PartyGaming, and Tulsi Tanti, who built Asia's largest wind farm Suzlon Energy. — UNI

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